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Emotional Alienation a Consistent Factor in Ecological and Chronic Pain Patients
The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent of emotional alienation consistent with ecological and chronic pain patients and to assess differences on this dimension between these two patient populations. Ecological group included 100 ecological inpatients, chronic pain group, 30 spinal pain clinic patients. Tests administered were the Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) including Harris and Lingoes subscales. The ecological group was significantly higher on measures of alienation than the pain group or the standardization population. Results also indicated that the ecological group demonstrated more psychopathology. Emotional alienation appeared to be a consistent stressor in ecological and chronic pain patients. Treatment of these patients should include the reduction of this emotional correlate.
Health Attribution Beliefs and Compliance in Ecological Patients
The relationship between health attribution belief systems and compliance in an ecological treatment regimen was examined in 40 patients with environmental illness. Internal and chance scales on the Health Attribution Test (HAT) were found to be related to reported level of compliance for each subject. Data were subjected to Chi square analysis with highly significant results obtained. Ecology patients appear to take responsibility for their own health and treatment and, although they feel themselves to be victims of fate, they comply with treatment on a high level.
Interrater Reliability of the Psychological Rating Scale for Diagnostic Classification
The poor reliability of the DSM diagnostic system has been a major issue of concern for many researchers and clinicians. Standardized interview techniques and rating scales have been shown to be effective in increasing interrater reliability in diagnosis and classification. This study hypothesized that the utilization of the Psychological Rating Scale for Diagnostic Classification for assessing the problematic behaviors, symptoms, or other characteristics of an individual would increase interrater reliability, subsequently leading to higher diagnostic agreement between raters and with DSM-III classification. This hypothesis was strongly supported by high overall profile reliability and individual profile reliability. Therefore utilization of this rating scale would enhance the accuracy of diagnosis and add to the educational efforts of technical personnel and those professionals in related disciplines.
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